Mastalgia
Mastalgia, or breast pain, is relatively common among women. The tenderness is typically cyclical or non-cyclical. The former means that the pain you experience is linked to menstrual cycles and usually subsides after or during periods. On the other hand, the latter has various triggers, including injury. There are times when the discomfort comes from the surrounding tissues or muscles. Since this type of pain isn’t as common, the causes are much more challenging to identify.
Fluctuations in hormones are the most frequent reason for breast tenderness. When progesterone and estrogen fluctuate, they can make the breasts feel painful, lumpy, and swollen. Some reports that the pain increases in severity as they age due to the growing sensitivity of women to hormones as they age. There are also times when those with menstrual pain won’t experience any discomfort after menopause.
As women age, their breasts start to undergo involution, where fat replaces breast tissue. The side effect is the growth and development of fibrous tissue and cysts. Often, they aren’t anything to be worried about, even if they may increase tenderness and feel lumpy. Other causes are mastitis, engorgement, and diet. In severe cases, cancerous tumors may cause mastalgia.
